William Monahan Developing '60s-Set TV Series 'Crime' With Starz

By
Cain Rodriguez
|
The PlaylistJanuary 3, 2013 at 2:26PM

With the disappearance of studio-backed mid-level dramas, many filmmakers have fled to the open arms of cable television. The latest transplant to the small screen is “The Departed” screenwriter William Monahan with the British period-drama “Crime.”

With the disappearance of studio-backed mid-level dramas, many filmmakers have fled to the open arms of cable television. The latest transplant to the small screen is “The Departed” screenwriter William Monahan with the British period-drama “Crime.”

The series, originally developed as a feature film by Vanessa Sadler, is described “as a study of criminal enterprise and scandal across 1960s Britain.” “Downton Abbey” this ain’t. Monahan will be writing the drama for Starz, which recently cancelled the Kelsey Grammer-starring “Boss,” so they've got a bit of an opening in their lineup.

And as for why the Oscar-winning screenwriter was attracted to the series? “There’s very little more interesting to me than the ‘60s in Britain, taken from Profumo to psychedelia, from the London criminal world to the worlds of art and fashion -- all of which continually intersected. I know one thing: it’s very, very, funny.” We’re guessing that the project is still far in the future since he’s not only gearing up to direct “Mojave” but also set to pen the Charlize Theron-starring remake of Park Chan-wook’s “Sympathy For Lady Vengeance.” Yep, Monahan’s is going to have a busy 2013. [Deadline]